The Spireites went close themselves three minutes later, when Bradley Barry got forward from right-back and his cross was deflected onto the bar by Carlisle defender Clint Hill.

Despite seeing more of the ball, however, Chesterfield were behind on 19 minutes when Etuhu was given time and space to curl into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

With the Spireites struggling to test Carlisle keeper Jack Bonham, their plight was then summed up on 38 minutes when Joe Rowley passed an attempted short corner straight out for a goal kick.

Things did not improve after the break, either – Alex Whitmore was easily outpaced by Cole Stockton, who prodded his shot wide, on 47 minutes.

Stockton then squandered a great chance to double the lead on 56 minutes, after Nadesan’s pull-back, as he shot wide of the open goal.

Reed thought he had levelled on 71 minutes, when he volleyed in after a corner was only half-cleared, but – after a consultation with referee Sebastian Stockbridge – the linesman’s flag curtailed the visitors’ celebrations.

Substitute O’Sullivan then sealed victory on 81 minutes, prodding in from close-range with his first touch after Tom Parkes’ header was blocked.